Animal mouth opener



F. C. F EHRMAN ANIMAL MOUTH OPENER Feb. 26, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 1, 1951 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 26, 1952- F. c. FEHRMAN ANIMAL MOUTH OPENER 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed March 1, 1951 INVENTOR FREDERICK CFEHRMAN ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a mouth opening .de-

vice for animals.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a mouth opener for small animals, such as .chinchillas, which will greatly facilitate working in the mouth, or upon the teeth or adjacent organs of such animals, which are reached through the mouth.

A further object is to provide ananimal mouth .opener including resilient means for opening or separating the jaws 'of the animal so that its jaws may havesome freedom .of movement during the use of the device.

implementfor small animals, having means to positively limit the .extent of opening vorspreading of the jaws of the device, .so that the animals jaws are not spread apart excessively.

..A further object is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character including separate adjustable jowl holding elements which remain in selected adjusted positions by friction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a .device of the above-mentioned character which is simple and compact in construction,

sturdy and durable, light weight, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming'a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designatelike parts throughout same.

Figure lis a perspective view of a-mouthopening device embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a side elevation or the device,

Figure 4" is aside elevation of the'device with its jaws drawn together for insertion into the mouth of the animal, and showing indotted lines the positionof the jaws during use,

[Figure '5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line '5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure '6 is an enlarged central longitudinal section taken on line '6-'6 ofFigure 3, partsin elevation,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic :view'showinghow the device stretches and holds the animals jowls,

Figure 8 is a plan view of a mouth opener embodying a modified form of the invention,

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the device with its jaws drawn together .for insertion into the .mouth of the animal,

Figure 11 is a substantially horizontal'section taken on line ll-.ll of Figure 9,

Fi ure 12 is a central vertical section taken on line I2-I2 'of Figure 8, 7

Figure 13 .is a vertical section taken on I3|3 of Figure 8, and,

. Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on line M-hi of Figure 8.

This application is a continuation in part of .my pending application, SerialNumber 199,035, filed .Dec. 4,..1950and now abandoned.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of my invention, attention is directed first to Figures 1 to '7 inclusive, wherein the numerals l0 and II designate upper and lower resilient jaws for opening the mouth of a small animal, .such as achinchilla. The jaws I0 and II comprise forwardly converging bars or sides l2, Figure 2, integrally joined at their forward .ends by ,arcuate bars or loops l3. The rear ends of the bars l2 are integraly secured to spiral spring coils l4, disposed vertically and formed with the jaws l0 and H from a continuous section of spring wire, or the like. The upper and lower jaws l0 and :II diverge for wardly,.Figure 3,.and the spring coils 14 bias the jaws toward their spread apart or open positions, Figures .1 and 3. Thebars l2 are also resilient, and with the spring coils l4 are adapted to resist the closing of the jaws land ll.

Short anchoring pins or elements l5 are mountedeccentricaly within the spring coils I l, and rigidly secured therein by solderingone of thecoils 54 at one point only to each pin [5, as at 5, Figure 6. The remainder of the coils [4 are spaced-from the pins l5 and free from solder so that the may be active for spreading apart the jaws l0 and-l l. The inner heads N5 of the pins l5 are substantially flush with the inner sides of the bars [2, Figure 2, and the outer ends of the pins 15 project a slight distance laterally outwardly of the bars l2, as shown.

Flat bit plates l8 are soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the forward ends of'the jaws l0 and l l, and preferably to the bottom ofthe-upper jaw lfi-and'to the top side of the jaw H, as :shown. The marginal edges'of the bit'plates 5 follow the contours of the forward ends of the line , verge upwardly,

jaws l and H, and the bit plates have straight transverse edges i l at their rear ends, and spaced rearwardly of the arcuate bars l3. Straight transverse ribs or stops [8 are rigidly secured to the top and bottom faces of the upper and lower bit plates l6, respectively, and the ribs [8 are spaced a slight distance forwardly of and parallel to the edges IT. The ribs 18 extend for the full distance between the pairs of bars l2, and preferably have their outer sides flush with the upper and lower sides of the upper and lower jaws i0 and H.

Means are provided to positively limit and adjust the extent of opening of the jaws l0 and H. Such means comprises a pair of transversely oppositely disposed vertical screw-threaded adjusting rods 19, arranged near the longitudinal centers of the jaws l3 and ll, and having their upper ends pivotally secured to the outer sides of the upper pair of bars l2, as shown at 20. The upper portions 2| of the screw-threaded adjusting rods l9 are inclined slightly and conso that the vertical screwthreaded portions 22 are spaced laterally outwardly slightly of the lower bars l2, which themselves may be spaced apart a slightly greater distance than the upper bars 52, as shown. Sleeves 23 are slidably mounted upon the lower bars l2 and carry laterally outwardly projecting apertured bosses or eyes 24, rigidly secured thereto, and slidably receiving the adjusting screws l9. Nuts 25 have screw-threaded engagement with the adjusting rods [9 below the eyes 24. With this arrangement, the extent of opening of the jaws l0 and II is positively reghorizontal arms or rods 21 are integrally secured to the other corresponding ends of the coils 26, and spaced laterally outwardly of the sides of the jaws l0 and H, Figure 2. The arms 21 are arranged midway between the upper and lower jaws Ill and H, and converge forwardly. but to a lesser degree than the bars [2, see Figure 2. Elongated sleeves 28 are telescopically slidably mounted upon the rods 21, and the forward ends of the sleeves 28 carry longitudinally forwardly extending shanks 29, rigidly secured thereto and adapted to engage the forward ends of the rods 21 to limit the rearward axial movement of the sleeves 23. Eyes 30 are rigidly secured to the outer sides of the sleeves 28, near and rearwardly of their forward ends, and retractile co l springs 3| .surround the arms 21 and sleeves 28 and have their forward ends connected with the eyes 30, and their rear ends connected with the horizontal spring coils 26. as shown at 32.

The shan s 29 form inte ral parts of inwardly directed hooks 33', having forward rounded ends 33. carrying longitudinally rearwardl extending jowl engaging elements or loops 34, ri idly secured thereto and spaced laterally in ardly of the shanks 29 and substantially parallel therewith. The rear ends of the jo l en a in loops 34 terminate near and rearwardly of the forward ends of the sleeves 28, and the loops 34 are disposed in substantially vertical planes, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3. The hooks 33 are thus disposed midway between the forward ends of the jaws l0 and II, and the forward ends 33 of the hooks terminate substantially at the arcuate ends l3 of the jaws. In their free positions, the hooks 33 are spaced laterally outwardly of the forward ends of the jaws l0 and l l as shown in Figure 2. The spring coils 26 bias the arms 2'! to the positions shown in Figure 2, and when the arms 21 and hooks 33 are forced laterally inwardly to the dotted line positions of Figure 2 and released, they will return automatically to the positions shown in full lines in Figure 2. The retractile springs 3! likewise bias the sleeves 28 and hooks 33 axially rearwardly, with the shanks 29 engaging the forward ends of the arms 21.

I provide an inverted U-shaped bail or hanger loop 35 for engagement over the neck of the animal rearwardly of its head, to support the rear end of the mouth opening device and prevent the animal from backing out of the same. The lower ends of the bail 35 are pivotally secured at 36 to the spring coils 26, and the bail is freely swingable vertically.

In the use of the device, as illustrated by Figures 1 to '7 inclusive, the forward ends l3 of the jaws l9 and II are grasped between the fingers and drawn together or closed as shown in full lines in Figure 4. The bit plates 16 are now introduced rearwardly into the mouth of the animal, until the transverse ribs l8 pass rearwardly of the animals front teeth 31. The jaws l0 and l l are now released, and the bit plates [6 engage the teeth 31 and the animals jaws are forced open, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. The teeth 3! are loc ed for ardly of the ribs l8 and cannot slip from the rear edge of the bit plates i6. The head of the animal is disposed inwardly of the diverging bars l2 of the u per and lower jaws I9 and II, and the pins l5 are disposed upon opposite sides of the animals head. The bail 35 engages over the head or neck of the animal, and prevents it from withdrawing its head rearwardly. The nuts 35 are adjusted to provide the proper degree of opening or spreading of the resilient jaws l0 and II, so that the animals mouth will not be stretched open too far. The mouth is held open the desired extent, and the animal will have some freedom of movement of its jaws in the closing direction, due to the resiliency of the coils l4 and bars l2. However, when the animals jaws are relaxed, the device will hold its mouth open.

When the animals mouth is thus held open by the device, the hooks 33' are drawn longitudinally forwardly, and the arms 2'! are simulta neously forced laterally inwardly to the dotted line positions shown in Figure 2. The hooks 33' are now brought into engagement with the loose jowls or checks of the animal and the vertical l ops 34 'are disposed inwar ly of the jowls. The hooks 33' and arms 21 are now released, and the arms 21 spring laterally outwardly toward the full line positions of Figure 2, and the coil springs 3! shift the sleeves 28 and hanks 33 lon itudina l rearw rdly toward t eir full line positions. The hooks 33 thus stretchthe jowls of the animal laterally outwardly and retract the same for fully exposing the teeth 31, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 7. I contemplate making the device without the screwthreaded adjusting rods [9.

In Figures 8 to 14 inclusive, I have shown a modified form of the device, wherein the numextensions 4|. I are pivotally secured as at '43 to the upper ends and arranged in aligment with the eyes 44.

The jaws 31 and 38 are "formed from bars or bands, bent to provide forwardly convergin sides 39, integrally joined at their forward ends.

by arcuate bars or portions All. The rear ends of the sides '39 carry "short parallel longitudinal asses-2s extensions ll, terminating in lateral'a'lig nr'rlent,

and the extensions 4! of the jaw 38 carry upstanding vertical plates or lugs 42, rigidly-secured thereto and dispos'ed at the outer sides of the The extensions ll of the jaw 31 of the upstanding plates 42 and these plates maintain the rear ends of the jaws spaced apart a fixed distance. The jaws 31 and 38 are swingable toward and away from each other, this to the pivotal connection of the jaw 31 with the 'fplatesM. The'ja'ws' 3l and 33 areopn at their "rear ends, as shown, so that the animals 'head "may be placed between the sides 39. Finger engaging eyes or loops "45 are rigidly secured "to the forward'ends 40 and project lengitudinally forwardly thereof toaid indrawing the jaws 31 and 38 together.

Eyes "44 are rigidly secured to the sides 39 f the jaw 38, near 'andforwardly of the plates "42, and the eyes W4 project laterally outwardly of the sides 39' and -are disposed "horizontally, Figure 1-4. Upwardlydire'cted vertical screws '45.

have their heads 43 engaging thelower sides of the eyes 44, and nuts 41 are mounted upon the screws and locked against the upper sides of the eyes 44 for fixedly securing the screws'to the eye's. nuts 48 mounted thereon and provided at their upper ends with enlarged heads 49 forming's'tops; The tubular nuts 48 extend slidably through eyes 50, rigidly secured to the sides 39 of the jaw'3'l heads 45 are arranged above the eyes 53 and The screws '45 have tubular adjusting T The 1 soldering or the like.

, 6 as the'tra'nsverse'rlbs l8 describedin connection with the first form of the invention.

Rigidly secured to the jaw sides 39 .near the forward ends of the jaws 3? and 38 are pairs of headed guide pins '54 which project laterally outwardly of the Sides 39, as shown. Substanoamy vertical links or plates '55 extend between the jaws '31 and 38 and are provided with pairs of longitudinal slots 55, slidablj receiving the guide pins 54. The guide pins 54 have a free or loose 'fit within the slots 55, so that the links 55 will not interfere with the free opening and closing of the jaws, and'the guide pins 54 serve to secure the links 55 to the jaws. The links 55 are provided at their longitudinal centers and substantially midway between the jaws '31 and 38 with laterally outwardly extending opposed horizontal guides 5'2, rigidly secured thereto by These guides 53 are positioned substantially adjacent to the transverse ribs 53, as shown, and the outer ends of the guides terminate substantially in longitudinal alignment with the upstanding plates 42, Figure 8. The guides 5'5 are parallel to the transverse ribs 53, and each guide has a pair of parallel passages or bores '53 extending longitudinally therethr'ou'gh, for receiving and guiding opposed U-shaped rods or arms 53, equipped at their outer ends with small projections or knobs to facilitate operating the same. The 'U-shaped rods 59 are slidable longitudinally within the bores 58, and have frictional engagement therewith, so that they will remain in selected adju'sted positions.

1 formed to provide opposed substantially parallel contact such eyes for limiting the *opening or 1 spreading of the jaws 31 and 38. The extent of opening of the jaws may be adjusted by turning the tubular nuts '48 upon the screws 45, and in all positions of the nuts 48, the heads "43 positively limit the openings or spreading apart of the jaws. The nuts 43 are normally adjusted during the use of the device so that the jaws 3? and 38 diverge forwardly as shown in Figures 9 and 12 when they are released. Expansible coil springs 5| surround the screws '45 and tubular nuts 48 between the eyes 5!]- and nuts 41, and these springs serve to bias the jaws 38 and 3! to their open or spread apart positions. The jaws are freely swingable together at their forward ends, as shown in Figure 10, and when released the jaws will return automatically'to their spread apart positions of Figure 9.

Flat bit plates 52 are soldered or 'ctherwise rigidly secured to the forward ends of the jaws 3'! and 38 and perferably to the bottom side of the jaw 31 and to the upper side of the jaw 38 as shown in Figure 12. The marginal edges of the bit plates 52 follow the contours of the forward ends of the jaws 31 and 38 and the bit plates are bent upwardly at their rear ends for forming transverse ribs or abutments 53, integral therewith and projecting above and below the bit plates 52 of the jaws 31 and 38 respectively. The transverse ribs 53 extend for the full distance between the sides 39 of the respective jaws, and the ribs 53 spaced a slight distance longitudinally rearwardly extending jowl engaging elements or loops 53, similar to the loops 34. The loops 53 lie in substantially vertical planes, as shown, and the rear ends of the loops 33 terminate near the longitudinal centersof the jaws 31 and 38. The outward movement "or separation of the adjustable hook elements 62 is'limited by the contact of these elements with the links 55, when the U-shaped rods '59 are pulled outwardly. The hook elements 62 are shiftable together to substantially contacting opposed positions at the transverse center of the device, as shown in Figures 8 and '11. If

desired, washers 54 may be mounted upon the guide pins 54 between the links 55 and sides 39.

In use, the device is employed in generally'the same manner as the device constituting the first form of the invention. The forward ends of the jaws 31 and '33 are drawn "together and the bit plates 52 are-iritroducedinto the animals mouth so that its front teeth may engage between the transverse ribs 53 and ends 43. The jaws 31 and 38 are then released, and the animals mouth is forced open for the desired extent, as controlled by the adjustment of the tubular nuts 48. The loops 63 at this time are arranged in their innermost positions as shown in Figure 8, and projecting into the mouth of the animal. The knobs 60 are now grasped and pulled outwardly for separating the loops 63, and these loops will engage and spread apart the jowls or checks of the animal in a manner similar to that illustrated diagrammatically in Figure '7. The jowl holding loops 60 will remain in the selected 7 adjusted positions due to the frictional engagement of the U-shaped rods 59 in the bores 58. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for holding open an animals mouth comprising resilient jaws including bit parts engageable within the mouth of the animal to open the mouth, longitudinal resilient arms secured to the device near the sides of the resilient jaws, hook elements slidably engaging the longitudinal resilient arms and projecting forwardly thereof and adapted to engage and hold the animal's jowls, and spring means connected with the hook elements and urging them longitudinally rearwardly.

2. A device for opening an animals mouth comprising upper and lower jaws including sidesbetween which the animals head is positioned, bit means carried by the forward ends of the jaws for engagement in the animals mouth, spring means connecting the jaws and resiliently spreading them apart, longitudinal arms secured to the jaws near their rear ends and extend ing forwardly and spaced laterally of the sides of the jaws, sleeves telescopically slidably mounted upon the longitudinal arms, holding elements secured to the sleeves and adapted to engage the jowls of the animal for stretching the same, and coil springs connecting the sleeves and longitudinal arms and serving to draw the holding elements longitudinally rearwardly.

3. A device for opening an animals mouth comprising upper and lower forwardly diverging jaws including sides to be arranged exteriorly of the mouth of the animal, bit elements secured to the upper and lower jaws near their forward ends and adapted to engage in the animals mouth, spring coils connecting the upper and lower jaws and serving to bias them apart;

for holding the animals mouth open, book elements arranged near the sides of the device and adapted to engage and hold the animals jowls, spring coils connected with the hook elements for biasing them laterally outwardly of the sides of the upper and lower jaws, and adjustable means connecting the upper and lower jaws to limit the extent of opening of the jaws.

4. A device for holding open an animals mouth comprising first and second jaws includ-,

their forward ends are shiftable toward and away from each other, adjustable resilient means connected with the jaws for urging them apart and limiting their movement away from each other, transverse ribs carried by the jaws near their forward ends for engagement rearwardly of the front teeth of the animal when the ribs are inserted into the mouth of the animal, pairs of projections carried by the sides of the jaws near the forward ends thereof, slotted links extending between the first and second jaws and slidably receiving the pairs of projections for connecting the jaws and links and permitting the jaws to operate freely, transverse guides secured to the links and extending beyond the sides of the jaws, and transversely adjustable jowl holding elements connected with the transverse guides for movement to selected adjusted positions along the same.

5. A device for holding open an animal's mouth comprising upper and lower jaws having bit parts insertable into the mouth of the animal, spring means connecting the upper and lower jaws and urging them apart to force open the animal's mouth, and a pair of laterally oppositely disposed hook elements carried by the device and movable transversely of the upper and lower jaws for a substantial distance, the hook elements being adapted to engage the jowls of the animal for spreading them apart whilethe device holds open the animal's mouth.

6. A device for holding open an animals mouth comprising upper and lower jaws including transverse bit parts for insertion into the mouth of the animal, spring means connecting the upper and lower jaws and urging them apart to force open the animal's mouth, and a pair of laterally oppositely disposed hook elements carried by the device and arranged between the upper and lower jaws of the device, said hook elements being longitudinally rearwardly directed so that they may engage the jowls of the animal substantially midway between the upper and lower jaws and hold the jowls while the animals mouth is open, the hook elements being adjustable transversely of the upper and lower jaws for substantial distances.

FREDERICK C. FEHRMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 20,905 Thomas July 13, 1858 442,180 Halfpenny Dec. 9, 1890 467,658 Cameron et al. Jan 26, 1892 574,591 Walker Jan. 5, 1897 853,031 Prentis May 7, 1907 1,130,346 Swales Mar. 2, 1915 

